Strawberry plant named &#39;civrh621&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘CIVRH621’. This new everbearer strawberry plant named ‘CIVRH621’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the high chill areas. It is characterized as a rustic plant resistant to mildew with a robust and efficient root system tolerant to diseases, suitable for organic cultivation. ‘CIVRH621’ has high production during the initial harvesting period but is also long and constant through the season. The plant has high-medium vigor with semi-upright habit and medium density foliage. The fruit has a conical/hearted shape, which is maintained during the whole picking season, very attractive and uniform bright red color, also excellent skin resistance during the summer with good shelf life. The aroma of the fruit is intense and persistent with very pleasant organoleptic characteristics and an ideal balance between sweetness and acidity. Fruit picking is easy and fast.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria x ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘CIVRH621’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘CIVRH621’.

The new strawberry ‘CIVRH621’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor(s), Leis Michelangelo and Martinelli Alessio, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new everbearer strawberry varieties with high chill requirement, rustic plants with robust and efficient root systems and good tolerance to diseases. Plants show resistance to mildew and are suitable for organic cultivation. Select fruits with very pleasant organoleptic characteristic and ideal balance between sweetness and acidity.

This new strawberry ‘CIVRH621’ is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors in 2011, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The female or seed parent is the not released selection of Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti named 3H1F-11. The male or pollen parent is the not released selection of Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti named S7V9-9.

The new strawberry ‘CIVRH621’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2013 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The new variety was tested over the next several years at Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy and in different European areas with high chill conditions. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CIVRH621’ is an everbearer variety with high chill requirement.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘CIVRH621’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

1. everbearer variety with high chill requirement;

2. rustic plant resistance to mildew with good tolerance to root system disease;

3. robust and efficient root system;

4. very high productivity, long and constant through the season;

5. bright red color, attractive and uniform; and

6. easy and fast fruit picking.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH621’ is the patented strawberry variety Murano. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH621’ differ from plants of strawberry variety ‘Murano’ in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘CIVRH621’ ‘MURANO’ Fruit: attitude of sepal Downwards Outwards Terminal leaflet: shape in Straight Concave cross Plant: vigor Strong Medium to strong

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH621’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘CIVRH621’.

The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH621’ were taken in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, and are approximately 3 to 5 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical plant of ‘CIVRH621’;

FIG. 2 shows typical flowers of ‘CIVRH621’;

FIG. 3 shows typical leaves of ‘CIVRH621’;

FIG. 4 shows typical fruits of ‘CIVRH621’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘CIVRH621’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH621’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the 2018 growing season in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The observations, measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘CIVRH621’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy, during 2018 and planted approximately 4 months later in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVRH621’ were grown under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 2 years of data collected from the 2017 through 2018 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 10:00 A.M. in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara), Italy. The approximate age of the observed plants is 3 to 5 months.

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘CIVRH621’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH621’ Color of mature fruit Red (45A red group) Color of internal flesh Orange red (32A orange-red group) Length (cm) Average 4.1 cm Width (cm) Average 4.4 cm Ratio length/width 0.95 Calyx diameter (cm) Average 3.2 cm Average weight (gm) Average 21.8 gm in 2018 Achene color Yellow (1A green-yellow group) Number of achenes Average 9.5 achenes/cm² per cm² Marketable yield (gm/pit) Average 900-1100 gm/plt Size Large Predominant shape Conical Difference in shape None or very slight between primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent Unevenness of surface Even or very slightly uneven Evenness of color Even or very slightly uneven Glossiness Strong Insertion of achenes Level with the surface Insertion of calyx Level with the surface Attitude of the calyx Outward Size of calyx in relation to Slightly smaller fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Very strong Firmness of skin Firm Firmness of flesh Firm Distribution of red color Marginal of the flesh Hollow center expression Absent or small Flavor Very good flavor with a balanced sugar-acid ratio Soluble solids (% brix) 8.6° Brix Time of first flowering Early Time of first harvesting Early (first picking the 30^(th) of May 2019 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy) Harvest period From the end of May to October Type of bearing Day neutral

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH621’ Height (cm) Average 30 cm Spread (cm) Average 38 cm Size Medium Habit Upright Density Dense Vigor Medium

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH621’ Average number per plant About 15 stolons/mother plant in our nursery in San Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara) Italy Anthocyanin coloration Purple (184A greyed-purple group) Anthocyanin intensity Weak to medium. The anthocyanin coloration is present in the apical part of the stolon. Diameter at bract (mm) Average 4.1 mm Pubescence Medium

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH621’ Foliage: Color of upper surface Green (137A green group) Color of underside Green (137C green group) Shape in cross section Concave Interveinal blistering Medium Glossiness Medium Number of leaflets Three (3) Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) Average 11.5 cm Width (cm) Average 9 cm Length/width ratio 1.2 Serrations/leaf Free to touching Size Medium Shape of base Acute Shape of teeth Serrate to crenate Petiole: Length (cm) Average 18.8 cm Diameter (mm) Average 4.8 mm Petiolule length (mm) Average 6.1 mm Pubescence Weak Attitude of hairs Upwards Stipule: Length (mm) Average 17.8 cm Width (mm) Average 8.9 mm Anthocyanin coloration Weak Color Red-purple (59C red-purple group)

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRF1621’ Length (cm) Average 28 cm Position relative to foliage Above the foliage Pubescence Strong Anthocyanin intensity None to very light Attitude at first pick Outwards

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVRH621’ Petal color Mature (upper) White (155 D white group) Mature (lower) White (155 D white group) Petal shape Overall Rounded Apex Rounded Base Straight Petal length (mm) Average 12.6 mm Petal width (mm) Average 11.5 mm Petal length/width ratio 1.09 Number of petals/flower About 7 to 8 Sepals color Mature (upper) Green (141 B green group) Mature (lower) Green (144 A green group) Sepal shape Overall Narrow-elliptic Apex Pointed Base Narrow Sepal length (mm) Average 10.6 mm Sepal width (mm) Average 4.7 mm Sepal length/width ratio 2.6 Number of sepals/flower About 15 Corolla diameter (mm) Average 33.2 mm Calyx diameter (mm) Average 33.5 mm Size of calyx relative to Same size corolla Relative position of petals Touching to overlapping

TABLE 9   PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS The ‘CIVRH621’ variety has been tested for several years and it has demostrated good tolerance to diseases of the root system and resistance to mildew. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘CIVRH621’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 